182 
American  Medical  Association. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
April,  1907. 
been  recommended  for  a  variety  of  affections  in  which  a  caustic, 
astringent  or  antiseptic  is  indicated.  It  has  been  particularly  recom- 
mended for  gonorrhea  in  females,  especially  when  affecting  the 
endometrium.  Dosage. — As  a  surgical  antiseptic,  in  0-5  to  3  per 
cent,  solutions;  in  gynecology,  in  2  to  5  per  cent,  solutions;  in 
otology  and  laryngology,  either  as  powder  or  in  to  I  per  cent, 
solution  as  douches,  washes  or  gargles ;  as  cautery,  in  10  to  20  per 
cent,  solution.  Manufactured  by  Farbwerke,  vorm.  Meister,  Lucius 
&  Bruening,  Hoechst  a.  M.  (Victor  Koechl  &  Co.,  New  York). 
ANTITHYROID  PREPARATIONS. 
Preparations  obtained  from  the  blood  or  milk  of  animals,  after 
the  removal  of  the  thyroid  glands.  The  use  of  these  preparations 
is  based  on  the  theory  that  the  thyroid  gland  secretes  products  which 
are  toxic,  but  which  neutralize,  and  are  neutralized  by,  other  toxic 
substances  produced  elsewhere  in  the  body.  Removal  of  the  thy- 
roid glands,  therefore,  leads  to  the  accumulation  of  these  second 
toxic  substances  as  evidenced  by  the  phenomena  of  cachexia 
strumipriva  and  myxedema.  On  the  other  hand,  the  blood  or  milk 
of  such  animals  is  capable  of  preventing  the  effects  of  a  hypersecre- 
tion of  thyroid  substance,  such  as  is  supposed  to  occur  in  Basedow's 
disease  (exophthalmic  goiter).  These  views  are  still  largely  hypo- 
thetical ;  but  the  majority  of  clinical  observers  report  markedly 
beneficial  results  in  the  milder  forms  of  the  disease  and  in  obscure 
nervous  disorders  which  are  supposedly  connected  with  thyroid 
hypersecretion.  The  effects  are  less  pronounced  in  the  more  severe 
forms.  The  action  is  merely  palliative  and  other  methods  of  treat- 
ment should  not  be  neglected.  Improvement  occurs  in  two  or  three 
weeks  and  is  indicated  by  an  amelioration  of  the  nervous  symptoms, 
tremors,  palpitation,  insomnia  and  excitability.  The  administration 
must  be  long  continued.  Oral  and  hypodermic  administrations  are 
equally  effective,  but  the  former  is  usually  preferred.  These  prep- 
arations are  not  toxic,  even  when  very  large  doses  are  used. 
ARGENT  AMIN. 
An  aqueous  solution  of  silver  nitrate  and  ethylenediamine,  corre- 
sponding to  10  per  cent,  of  silver  nitrate. 
Actions  and  Uses. — It  is  antiseptic  and  astringent  like  other  silver 
salts,  with  the  asserted  advantage*  of  being  non-irritant  and  more 
